Vibrating tamper having tamper foot

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a vibrating tamper for soil compaction, which has a superstructure having a drive motor and a substructure having a tamper plate driven by the drive motor, the tamper plate being fastened on a tamper foot associated with the substructure, and this tamper foot being mounted so it is linearly movable on the vibrating tamper using a guide element. It is provided that the tamper foot is implemented integrally with the guide element.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Patent Application No. 10 2010 047 943.8, filed Oct. 8, 2010, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vibrating tamper for soil compaction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A vibrating tamper for soil compaction is known, for example, from DE 44 36 081 A1. This vibrating tamper comprises a superstructure having a drive motor and a substructure having a tamper plate (or compaction plate) driven by the drive motor. In order to cause the drive of the tamper plate, the tamper foot is mounted using a guide element so it is linearly movable on the vibrating tamper, as is shown in FIG. 1 of DE 44 36 081 A1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to improve the vibrating tamper known from DE 44 36 081 A1.

The above object is achieved by a vibrating tamper for soil compaction, which has a superstructure having a drive motor and a substructure having a tamper plate driven by the drive motor, the tamper plate being fastened on a tamper foot associated with the substructure and this tamper foot being mounted using at least one guide element so it is linearly movable on the vibrating tamper. It is provided that the at least one tamper foot is implemented in one piece or integrally with the guide element. In other words, this means that the tamper foot is implemented with an integrated guide element.

In that the tamper foot is implemented in one piece or integrally with the guide element, the number of individual components to be produced and assembled is reduced in relation to the designs known from the prior art, as disclosed, for example, in DE 44 36 081 A1. Further advantages are dispensing with the seals between tamper foot and guide element, as well as a savings in weight. As a result, a cost optimization is thus also achieved.

The integrated guide element is a cylindrical and tubular, respectively, inner guide of a telescopic sliding guide unit. Up to this point, such cylindrical inner guides were typically produced as welded parts and subsequently connected to the tamper foot, as disclosed in DE 44 36 081 A1, for example, which was complex and costly. In addition, both parts had to be sealed at the connection surface, in order to prevent the escape of oil and/or the entry of dirt.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the tamper foot has a cup-shaped section, which at least sectionally encloses this cylindrical inner guide. Furthermore, a radial gap can be provided between the inner contour of the cup-shaped section and the outer contour of the cylindrical inner guide, at least one connection web extending between the inner contour of the cup-shaped section and the outer contour of the inner guide preferably being situated in this gap. A particularly stable construction can be achieved by this measure. The connection web is preferably implemented as ring-shaped or the inner guide is implemented as peripheral between the inner contour of the cup-shaped section and the outer contour of the inner guide for this purpose. Furthermore, at least one passage opening can be provided at the height of this ring-shaped connection web, which produces a connection between the inner chamber of the inner guide and the outer chamber enclosing the tamper.

At least one large-dimensioned transport or holding handle for the vibrating tamper can be situated on the tamper foot, this transport handle preferably also being implemented in one piece or integrally with the tamper foot.

The tamper foot is advantageously implemented as a cast structure as a whole, i.e., together with the guide element and optionally also together with the transport handle. An aluminum material is preferably used as the casting material. A low weight can be achieved in this way. Furthermore, the guide element above all can be post-processed by machining comparatively simply, in particular in comparison to a steel material. A cost optimization can be achieved by the less complex processing. Alternatively, a plastic material or a plastic composite material can also be used as the casting material. It is also possible that the cast structure is a multicomponent casting, in which various casting materials are used in accordance with the stresses. Thus, for example, the guide element can be formed from a steel casting material, while the remaining tamper foot comprises an aluminum material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in greater detail hereafter on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing. In the schematic figures:

FIG. 1 shows a vibrating tamper in a sectional view; and

FIG. 2 shows the tamper foot of the vibrating tamper from FIG. 1 in an enlarged sectional view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a vibrating tamper 1 to be guided by hand. The vibrating tamper 1 comprises a superstructure 2 having a drive motor 3 and a substructure 4 having a tamper foot 5, on which a tamper plate 6 is fastened. The drive motor 3 drives an eccentric 7, on which a connecting rod 8 is mounted, which is connected at its lower end via pre-tensioned springs 9 and 10 to the tamper foot 5. The tamper foot 5 is mounted so it is linearly movable on the vibrating tamper 1 by means of a telescopic sliding guide unit, this telescopic sliding guide unit comprising a cylindrical inner guide 11 and an outer guide 12, also cylindrical, which form corresponding guide elements (inner guide element and outer guide element). The upper end of the cylindrical inner guide 11 is identified by 13, which also serves as the upper counter bearing for the spring 9. A flange on the superstructure 2 is identified by 14, on which the outer guide 12 of the telescopic sliding guide unit is fastened. A folded bellows 15 is provided for protection.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the tamper foot 5 is implemented in one piece or integrally with the cylindrical inner guide 11, which is described in greater detail hereafter in connection with FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 shows tamper foot 5 implemented as a cast structure, the cylindrical inner guide 11 being implemented integrally with this tamper foot 5. The tamper foot 5 has a cup-shaped section 16, which encloses the cylindrical inner guide 11 in the lower area. A radial or ring-cylindrical gap 17 is implemented between the inner contour of this cup-shaped section 16 and the outer contour of the cylindrical inner guide 11, by which movement space for the outer guide 12 is provided, on the one hand, and by which the access for processing tools to the outer surface of the inner guide 11 is also made possible, on the other hand, in order to post-process it by machining. A ring-shaped connection web 18, which extends between the inner contour of the cup-shaped section 16 and the outer contour of the inner guide 11, is situated in the radial gap 17, whereby a particularly stable construction is achieved. At the height of the connection web 18, a passage hole 19 runs in the radial direction, which produces a connection between the inner chamber of the inner guide 11 and the outer chamber enclosing the tamper 1. The passage hole 19 is closed to the outside in the cup-shaped section 16 using a closure screw 20. Furthermore, the connection web is implemented as a pocket 21 in the area of the passage hole 19, whereby especially this area is additionally stabilized. All transitions are designed for proper casting and optimized for load.

While the present invention has been illustrated by description of various embodiments and while those embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such details. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The present invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of Applicant's invention. 

1. A vibrating tamper for soil compaction, comprising: a superstructure having a drive motor and a substructure having a tamper plate driven by the drive motor, the tamper plate being fastened on a tamper foot associated with the substructure, with the tamper foot being mounted using a guide element so it is linearly movable on the vibrating tamper, wherein the guide element is a cylindrical inner guide of a telescopic sliding guide unit, and further wherein the tamper foot has a cup-shaped section, which at least sectionally encloses the cylindrical inner guide, with the tamper foot being implemented integrally with the guide element.
 2. The vibrating tamper according to claim 1, wherein a radial gap, in which at least one connection web is situated, is provided between an inner contour of the cup-shaped section and an outer contour of the cylindrical inner guide.
 3. The vibrating tamper according to claim 1, wherein at least one transport handle is situated on the tamper foot.
 4. The vibrating tamper according to claim 1, wherein the tamper foot, together with the guide element, is implemented as a cast structure.
 5. The vibrating tamper according to claim 4, wherein the casting material used is an aluminum material.
 6. The vibrating tamper according to claim 4, wherein the casting material used is a plastic material or a plastic composite material.
 7. The vibrating tamper according to claim 4, wherein the cast structure is a multicomponent casting.
 8. (canceled) 